The common wild fig,
Ficus thonningii
, is extensively used in African ethnomedicine for treating a number of
disease conditions which include diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, diabetes mellitus, gonorrhoea, respiratory infections, and
mental illnesses. This review aims to present a logical analysis of the nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological
properties of
F. thonningii in relation to its therapeutic applications. A bibliographic analysis of the uses, phytochemical
constituents and phytophamacological properties of
Ficus thonningii was carried out using published papers, medicinal plant
databases and various ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological books.
Ficus thonningii contains various bioactive
compounds which include alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins and active proteins, all of which contribute to its curative
properties.
In vitro and
in vivo pharmacological studies revealed that
F. thonningii possesses antimicrobial, antidiarrhoeal,
antihelmintic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies have shown
that
Ficus thonningii is non-toxic if administered orally in low doses. Scientific research has validated the ethnomedicinal
claims that
Ficus thonningii is useful in disease management. However, there is need to continue identifying, isolating and
quantifying the active principles and possibly determine the mechanisms underlying its curative properties.
